NBA schedule not fan-tastic, unlike Metta World Peace

LeBron James was a winner Saturday, when he found out he had won his third NBA MVP. His Miami Heat were winners, too, though they didn't have to play.

The NBA has gone out of its way to ensure the Heat an audience for their alley-oop dunks and lock-down defense. As a result, viewers got Game 1 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Boston Celtics series Saturday night, with the Heat-Indiana Pacers series not starting until Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, the NBA's premier time slot. This, despite Philadelphia and Boston ending their first-round series Thursday night, while the Pacers haven't played since Tuesday.

Also bowing to the Heat in the ratings war: Sunday's Los Angeles Clippers-Memphis Grizzlies Game 7. The game is in Memphis at noon CT (1 p.m. ET), but Clippers fans will have to wake up early for a game that tips at 10 a.m. out West.

This after they stayed up late for Saturday's 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT) Game 7 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles. The Lakers won that one 96-87 after blowing a huge lead. Metta World Peace was present, which is important. More on that in a minute.

That's not the only way the Western Conference pulled the short straw: Both West semifinals will feature back-to-back games at some point. Neither Eastern Conference semifinal will. Must be because of the two Game 7s, which the East first round lacked. NBA spokesman Tim Frank explained via e-mail, "There was a move up in both East series, so no need for a back-to-back."

As for other winners and losers Saturday:

Winners

World Peace: Things the Artest formerly known as Ron did Saturday night for the Lakers: scored 15 points, took 15 shots and 11 threes, had four steals, dove into the feet of courtside spectators for no apparent reason, finished plus-18, brought the ball up like a point guard. But mostly, he played. World Peace returned from his seven-game suspension for an elbow to the back of Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden's head, and his presence unquestionably helped inspire the Lakers to win Game 7. Also, "The little things you can't really see; the points is OK, but it's about the intangibles, the things I bring to the table," World Peace told TNT's Craig Sager before saying Queensbridge a few times. Things could get awkward as the Lakers take on the Thunder next. But for Saturday, World Peace is our big winner.

Kevin Garnett: It doesn't matter if he's the dirtiest player in the NBA. That's 57 points and 25 rebounds in his last two games. You couldn't help but think that Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was referring to the 2003-04 MVP when he answered TNT reporter David Aldridge's question about an aging team: "Look at us. We'll be fine."

Tall people: Across from Garnett, the 76ers' Spencer Hawes had a big night with 15 points and eight rebounds. In the nightcap, Lakers twin towers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum got some redemption for horrible performances in Game 6. They totaled 35 rebounds, though many of those 20 offensive boards came on their own misses. Gasol added six assists and a team-high 23 points after a three-point, three-rebound supposed effort in Game 6. "Their presence makes us different," Lakers coach Mike Brown said after the game. Gasol and Bynum are the first teammates to total 30 points, 30 rebounds and 10 blocks in a playoff game.

Rondo: He messed around and got a triple-double (13 points, 17 assists, 12 rebounds). It's his eighth in the playoffs. Rondo also made a move described by TNT's Shaquille O'Neal as "genius" to end the game, running into the backcourt on an inbound play to take the final 3.4 seconds off the clock without being fouled.

Evan Turner: The loss hurts, but the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft answered his critics with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a stretch of outstanding play in the first half.

Steve Blake: The former Maryland Terrapin had 19 points, making five of six three-pointers and scoring 19 of the Lakers' 21 bench points. He's better than Derek Fisher as the Lakers' shooting point guard, and he'll get a chance to prove it against Fisher, who is now a member of the Thunder.

Thaddeus Young: The 76ers forward can be a spark off the bench with his athleticism. But he limped off the court after landing on a cameraman at one point. And though he returned, he was mostly ineffective, finishing 1-for-4 for five points with one rebound. The Sixers were minus-11 with him on the court.

Ryan Hollins: The Celtics backup center was called clumsy and dangerous to practice with by TNT analyst Chris Webber. After he did this. Insult, meet injury.

Lakers-Los Angeles Dodgers relations:Did you see what Magic Johnson said? The new Dodgers owner and Lakers legend/vice president might have been providing motivation for his old team. But you have to imagine Brown would have preferred a less public approach.

The Manimal: We hate to see him go. But Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, for the first time this series, looked totally overmatched by the Lakers' height. He's got ferocious effort, but he's only 6-8, four inches shorter than Gasol or Bynum. He finished minus-19.

Lakers bench players other than Blake: Two points (on a field goal from Jordan Hill) in 18 total minutes. Blake, Hill and Matt Barnes were the only Lakers reserves used. Blake's facial hair is on this list, too.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

USA TODAY is now using Facebook Comments on our stories and blog posts to provide an enhanced user experience. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then "Add" your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find out more, read the FAQ and Conversation Guidelines.

About Reid and Mike

Reid Cherner has been with USA TODAY since 1982 and written Game On! since March 2008.

He has covered everything from high schools to horse racing to the college and the pros. The only thing he likes more than his own voice is the sound of readers telling him when he's right and wrong.

Michael Hiestand has covered sports media and marketing for USA TODAY, tackling the sports biz ranging from what's behind mega-events such as the Olympics and Super Bowl to the sometimes-hidden numbers behind the sports world's bottom line.